The Tiger Lillies – From Porter to Piaf.
Athens, Half Note Jazz Club
18-21, 25-28.11.2022
Rediscover the music of Cole Porter and Edith Piaf with Olivier Award-winning, cult cabaret band The Tiger Lillies. This is a rare opportunity to see the Grammy nominated legends in an intimate setting.
Martyn Jacques, founder of The Tiger Lillies, says:
‘Cole Porter was a great song writer and Piaf used great song writers. As a singer I have to interpret their music and make it my own, always with a Tiger Lillies touch!’ Jaques also acknowledges that his own writing has more in common with Porter’s than might be expected. 'The classic song as far as this collaboration goes is Miss Otis Regrets. As I’ve been recording the songs the engineer said to me that it is a Tiger Lillies song… it is very much in that dark gothic world which is part of what we do.'
With an international reputation for being one of the foremost avant-garde bands in the world, Olivier award winners The Tiger Lillies never cease to surprise, shock and entertain with their inimitable musical style, conjuring up the macabre magic of pre-war Berlin and fusing it with the savage edge of punk.
The world of The Tiger Lillies is dark, peculiar and varied, with moments of black humour and immense beauty. This unique, Brechtian street opera trio tour the world playing concerts and theatre shows such as The Tiger Lillies Freakshowl, The Ancient Mariner, The Tiger Lillies Circus and the West End hit Shockheaded Peter.
Always with a touch of twisted humour and sharp irony The Tiger Lillies point an implicit accusing finger back at us: what on Earth are we doing, laughing at this stuff? Their music is a mixture of pre-war Berlin cabaret, anarchic opera and gypsy music, echoing the voices of Bertolt Brecht and Jacques Brel.
'It's not surprising that their cult following is worldwide - a Tiger Lillies gig is a journey into wild emotion which passes right through melodrama and out the other side into bizarre beauty’. London Evening Standard
‘In an ideal world, The Tiger Lillies would represent Britain in the Eurovision song contest.’ The Times
It is hard to do justice to the dark, poetic brilliance of The Tiger Lillies, so the best thing I can advise is that you seek out a ticket for this glorious show’. ★★★★★ The Scotsman (Edinburgh Festival).
‘‘Martyn Jacques is a charismatic focus. Trudging between his piano and accordion like a man weighed down by supernatural dread – yet his voice is a molten cascade. The execution is impeccable throughout. Phenomenal.’
★★★★★ Guardian